Switch-stand.



G. L. WILLIAMS.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1911.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APH CCL. WASHINGTON. D. c.

C. L. WILLIAMS.

SWITCH STAND.-

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1911.

Patented Feb. 27,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

& w @w ammtoz Q Z. Wl/fanng CLEM I. WILLIAMS, 0F ATTIGA, INDIANA.

SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed July 12,

Patented Feb. 2'7, 1912.

1911. Serial No. 638,147.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEM L. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Attica, in the county of Fountain and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch- Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railway switches and has for its object the provision of an improved form of railway switch which will provide a continuous track whether the train is to continue on the main line or is to pass onto a siding, thus dispensing with guard rails while insuring the safe passage of the train.

The further object of my invention is the provision of an improved switch stand and locking device operated thereby, which switch stand will serve to shift both the switch points and the supplemental shifting rails adjacent the frog and will serve to securely lock the shifting rails or switch points in either position.

Other objects and advantages of my improved railway switoh will be readily apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and itwill be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific structure shown and described within the scope of my claims without departing from or exceeding the spiritof the invention.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my complete invention showing the switch members set for the train to continue on the main -line. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view showing the switch points set to cause the train to pass onto the siding. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the switch stand. Fig. 4: represents a similar view of the switch stand in unlocked position. Fig. 5 represents a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 represents an end view of the rail shifting and locking mechanism.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the ties on which are secured the main rails 2 and the siding rails 3, while pivotally supported between the main rails of the track are the switch point 4: forming an extension of the main rail and the switch point 5 forming an extension of the siding rail. Said switch points have the basal flanges 6 connected by the bar 7 to hold them in the correct spaced relation, while secured to said bar 7 and extending outward beneath the main rail 2 is the rod 8 for shifting the switch points.

Disposed adjacent the switch frog 9 is the pivotally supported extension of the main track and the similar extension 11 of the siding track, said extensions having basal flanges 12 connected by the plates 13 for holding the same in spaced relation and the extensions being adapted to be alternately fitted against the switch frog to guide the train onto the siding or in its course along the main track. A rod 1 1 has one end pivoted to the flange 15 and the other end pivoted to the arm 16 of a bell crank rotatably supported adj accnt the track, the rocking of the bell crank serving to shift the members 10 and 11, the other arm of said bell crank is connected by the pivotally secured link 18 with the arm 19 of a second bell crank lever having pivoted to its other arm 20 the outer end of the arm 8, whereby the switch points 1 and 5 and the rail extensions 10 and 11 are shifted in unison. To shift the said switches, I employ my improved switch stand which is most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said stand having a base plate 21 with laterally projecting ears 22 and with the upwardly extending supports or arms 23. Secured to the upper ends of the said support 23 are the brackets 24: which form a bearing for the collar 36, which in turn forms a bearing for the shaft 25, said shaft 25 having a squared portion 26 slidably en 'gaged 'in the collar 27 formed on and upstanding from the second bell crank, said bell crank also having a depending collar 28 which is rotatably engaged in a socket or recess in the base plate 21.

Secured on the shaft 25 near its upper end by the set screw 29 is the sleeve 30 having the laterally projecting arms 31 with the slot 32 therebetween in which rides the pin 33 carried by the end of the operating lever 34. Said lever 34.: is pivoted to the arm 35 of the collar 36 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 25 and bears against the brackets 24, said sleeve or collar 36 having a depending portion provided at its lower end with the flange, 37, the flange 37 being disposed just below the bearing brackets 38 which limit the upward movement of the sleeve 36 and thus of the handle pivoted to its arms.

Projecting laterally from the brackets 24 are the spaced arms 39 adapted to receive therebetween the handle lever 34 when the same is swung downward on its pivot said arms thus serving to prevent accidental throwing of the switch, by movement of said lever and also insuring that the lever and thus the switches be moved the correct amount. Said arms have the apertures 40 formed therein to receive the hasp of a padlock for securing the handle lever 34 in position between the pair of arms.

In the operation of my switch and controlling device therefor, when the lever 34 is moved upward to throw the switch the pin 33 riding in the slot 32 will bear against the lower arms 31 and tend to force said arms and thus the shaft 25 downward. lVhen the handle lever 34 is out of engagement with the securing arms 39 it may then be swung around, turning the shaft 25 and thus through the bell crank on said shaft shifting the various operating links and rods and the switch points controlled thereby. The depression of the lever 34 to cause it to fit between another pair of arms 39 will force the upper arms 31 and thus the sleeve 30 and shaft 25 upward, as is clearly shown in the drawings. In my invention, I utilize this movement imparted to the shaft 25 to operate means for locking the members 10 and 11 and thus the complete switch in desired position. To attain this result, I pivot between the ears 22 of the base plate 21 the curved lever 41 having a furcated end 42 spanning the shaft 25 and fitting between the collars 43 secured on said shaft. The movement of the shaft consequently serves to shift or rock the lever 41 011 its pivot. Pivoted to the lever intermediate its length is the rod 44 having its other end slidably supported by the guides 45 mounted on the ties adjacent the first described bell crank, said end 46 being of flattened or= spear shape, and a spring 47 being interposed between the collar 48 on the rod 44 and one of the guides for aiding in forcing the flattened end 46 outward. A plate or rod 49 is secured to the flange 15 of the rail extension 11 and has its other end slidably engaged between the guides 45 and formed with apertures 50, the point 46 being engaged in one of the apertures 50 to lock the plate 49 and thus the frog members in position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, the construction of my improved railway switch and operating mechanism therefor will be readily understood and it will be seen that the upward swinging of the operating handle or lever 34 serves to shift the lever 41 to draw the rod 44 out of locking engagement with the plate 49, when the lever may be turned to rock the shaft 25 and throw the switch, the depression of the lever 34 shifting the lever 41 in a reverse direction to move the rod 44 into locking position.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical and efficient switch controlling mechanism which will absolutely insure the switch being locked in correct position and will prevent accidental throwing thereof.

I claim:

1. A railway switch mechanism, comprising a pair of switch points, a rod for shifting said switch points in unison, a bell crank mounted adjacent the track and having the switch point rod pivoted to one arm thereof, a'connecting link pivoted to the other arm of the bell crank, a second bell crank pivotally secured adjacent the track, the end of the link being pivoted to one arm of said bell crank, a switch rod pivoted to the other arm of the bell crank, frog engaging rail extensions secured to said second switch rod and movable therewith, support-s rising adjacent the first bell crank, a shaft rotatably supported by the supports, said shaft having a squared portion slidably engaged in the angle of the first bell crank, a sleeve pivoted on the shaft, an operating lever pivoted to the sleeve, a second sleeve secured on the shaft and having spaced laterally projecting arms, the lever having a pin secured in one end and riding in the space between the arms, whereby the rocking of the lever on its pivot will cause the pin to bear against the arms to vertically move the shaft, and the shifting of the lever will rock the shaft to throw the bell crank and switch points, and a locking device operated by the vertical movement of the shaft to lock the switch points against movement when the lever is in depressed position.

2. The combination with a base, of a bell crank lever mounted thereon, connections between the lever and the switch for operating the switch, a shaft slidably engaging the bell crank, means for rotating the shaft to shift the bell crank and thus the switch, and means for slidably moving the shaft, and a switch locking device controlled by the sliding movement of the shaft.

3. The combination with a base plate, of a lever pivoted thereto, a second lever rotatably mounted thereon, a shaft supportedby the base plate for both vertical and rotative movement, a lever for rotating and vertithe shaft shifts the other lever to operate the cally moving the shaft, connections between switch. 10 the pivoted lever and switch locking means In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, and connections between the rotatably mountin the presence of two witnesses.

ed lever and switch operating means, wherex CLEM L. WILLIAMS. by the vertical movement of theshaft shifts Witnesses:

the pivoted lever to control the locking of F. W. MACOUGHTRY,

the switch and the rotative movement of MORRIS BLOUT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

